Thermostatic appliance.



PATBNTED OCT. 15, 1907.

G. W. WAGKER.

THERMOSTATIC APPLIANGE.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 2.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WINESSES:

No. 868,307. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

G. W. WAGKER.

THERMOSTATIG APPLIANGE.

APPLIOATION FILED APB.2.1soe.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED 0G17; 15, 1907.

G. W. WAGKER. THERMOSTATIG APPLIANGE.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1908.

ATTORNEY GEORGE W. WAGKER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

i THIERMOSTATIC APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed April 2,1906. Serial No. 809,364.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WACKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, county of Westchester. and State of New York, have-made a new and useful Invention in Thermostatic Appliances, Vof which the following isla. specification.

My invention is directed particularly to improvements in thermostatic appliances combined with fire extinguishing systems wherein the thermostat is caused to actuate a main operating valve of the differential type in such manner as to release water under pressure for various purposes, and it has for its objects, first, to combine with a thermostat and a differential operating valve a pilot or supplemental valve in such manner that the thermostat will, when sufficiently heated, cause the operating valve to be actuated through the differential action of a liquid flowing through a by-path and matic alarm in such ina-nner that the alarm will beY sounded at a predetermined temperature before the pilot or supplemental valve is actuated. Third, to providea thermostatically controlled operating valve which will be quicklyl returned to its closed position when the temperature which operates the thermostatic control valve fallsbelow that for which it is designed to operate and in such manner as to quickly and effectually cut off the fiow of water. Fourth, to combine with such a controlled operating valve and thermostat, an additional thermostatically controlled pilot or supplemental valve which will, for abnormal temperatures beyond that determined for the first thermostat, cause the operating valve to be maintained continuously in open position. Fifth, to combine with a system of thermostatically controlled valvesV which release volurnes ofiwater, means for manually effecting a distribution of water either in the Same roon or apartment where the automatically controlled valves are located, or in an adjoining or other roms or apartments where an emergency may require such action. Sixth, to combine with a main service or water supply pipe an auxiliary service or water supply pipe and a thermostatically controlled valve; together with an emergency water supply pipe, all so arranged that an individual volume of waterma'y be released by an abnormal temperature b'y the thermostatically controlled valve, or the same may be done manually in an emergency. A

My invention will be fully .understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a full sized part sectional, part side elevational view illustrating its application to a water pipe and illustrating also electrical conductors connected thereto for effecting an alarm through the agency of an electric' battery. and a well known form of alarm, not shown. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through Fig. 1 on the broken line x-a; and as seen looking thereat from left to right in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged part side elevational, part sectional View taken through Fig. l on the broken line y-y and as seen looking thereat from left to right in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the application of my improvement in a practical manner` and showing also an emergency appliance for manually releasing a valve or series y of valves in a room or series of rooms. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the subject matter shown in Fig. 4 and also its application to the release of va flrel door, as shown below on the left. Fig. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the application of my invention to the raising or opening of transoms, ventilators, doors, or the like, in theaters, public b ings, or similar places, the doors being shown in open position in dotted lines.

My invention contemplates preferably' the use of a confined expansible liquid, such as a mineral oil, for thermostatically controlling the movement of the operative parts of the valve/ control apparatus, and although the use of expansive oils has heretofore been contemplated for effecting the operation of thermostatic devices, in most instances, so far as I am aware, such arrangements have been of such a nature as to preclude their use in rooms where such devices present an v unsightly appearance, as in hotels, art galleries, private residences, etc. Electrical alarms have also been combined with such devices, but in so far as I am aware, such alarms have always been so constructed or arranged as to be actuated at the same time thatAthe water has been released or turned on by the thermostat, thereby often effecting a serious 'damage from the water by reason of a false alarm; or in cases where the ther- 'mostats have operated at temperatures less than that which 'produce conilagration. i

My invention is designed to overcome these serious defects and also to immediately effect the closure of the differential operating valve should the temperature fall belowthat Vfor which thethermostat was designed to operate, thereby avoiding damage attributable to the release of'water when not required.

My invention also contemplates the use of an addi-v tional thermostatic device designed to operate for abnormally high temperatures or beyond that for which loo the thermostat which starts the first operating valve is A set to operate. In other words, should the 'temperature be sufficient to destroy the thermostat which operates.

statically controlled appliances in a rooin or series of rooms, and for overcoming this imperfection in existing systems l have devised emergency apparatus whereby any person may manually release a sufficient volume or volumes of water to check the couilagratiou.

Referring now to the drawings for a full and clear understanding of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to construct the saine, and first to Figs. l to 3 inclusive, 1 represents a service or water supply pipe and 2 a union or junction between two parts of said pipe, which union or junction is cast in substantially the conformation shown so as to afford seats for the valves and the operative parts to be; later described. i

3- and 5 indicate the opposing parts of adifferential operating valve connected together by a stern 4.

6 and 7 are screw-threaded-heads or caps, the former closing the cylinder in which the part 5` is located and the latter affording a seat for a valve closing spring 8' beneath the differential operating valve.

9- is a by-path for lconveying water into the cylinder behind the part 5.

10 is a pilot or supplemental control valve for admitting water'into said by-path, said valvel being provided with a vstern 11 which is supported at its lower end by a seating or' closing spring 12 in a screw-seated cup 13, the arrangement being such that normally the valve is seated and the by-path 9 closed.v

14 is a screw-threaded adjusting cup and 15 a sliding contact sleeve having a shoulder for yieldingly securing it within said Acup and'against' the action of a spring 16. i

17 is a metallic cupy having a chamber 18, said cup being secured in the manner shown by bolts or screws 19 extending through insulating spools 20 and into upwardly extending arms from the union 2.

2,1 is a corrugated metallic diaphragm which' is secured to' the under side of the cup 17 by a metallic ring in the manner 'shown and 22 is a metallic tube preferably coiled, as shown, and having relatively large heat absorbing capacity. This tube is connected at one end directly to the chamber 18 and has its other end sealed after it andj the chamber have been wholly filled with some expansib-le liquid, preferably a min-` eral oi'l. `The central porti'orrof the' corrugated diaphragm 21 is flattened so as to afford a goed electrical contactI with the upper endvof the sliding contact sleeve 15, the arrangement being such that when said diaphragm and sleeve contact an electrical circuit is closed through the conductorsw, w, to an alarm ap'- paratus, not shown.

23 is a secondsupplemental control valve having. a stem 24 extending upward throughja seat 25y screwthreaded to the union 2, said valve being seated as shown in an inlet from the union to the by-path 9.

26, 26, are upwardly extending arms from the seat 25 and 27 is a setscrew located in alinement with the valvestem 24. y

28 is a short body of fusible material constituting in effect a second thermostat and designed to fuse for temperature relatively much greater than that designed to operatel the thermostaticl device hereinbeforel described, said fusible body being held in piace between sez-3,307

l. boing connected to a source of water supply, such as is usually found in buildings, and the outlet end lthereof on thc left heilig connected to a sprinkler or hose conn'cwtion, or any other well known operative part or parts, all seated, as shown, it'being understood that the thermostatically controlled device is adapted to operate for a predetermined temperature should a fire occur; or should any abnormal temperature for which the apparatus is designed to work be reached the liquid in the thcrmostatic device causes the diaphragm 21 to be moved downward a definite distance until it comes into electrical andl mechanical contact with the sliding contact sleeve 15. At this time the circuit is thereforeclosed from the battery and alarm, not shown, through the union 2, contact ysleeve l5, diaphragm 21, chamber 18', by conductor w, back tothe battery, thereby sounding an alarm. It will be noted that this alarm will be sounded before anyl mechanical effect is had upon the valve stem 11, as this'ean only be operated by a further descent of the diaphragm 21, and the time between which such results may take place may be such as to enable a watchman or other authorized person to reach the point where the alarm is turned in' before the water is turned on and to actuate a cock between the valve and the sprinkler, so as-.to prevent any outflow of water into the room, in the event of a false alarm. 1f, however, the water is not turned off at this cock, as the diaphragm 21 descends still further it ultimately comes into mechanical contact with the" upper end of the valve stern 11 finally unseating the pilot or supplemental control` valve 10 so that water now flows by way of the by-path 9 intothe lcylinder behind the part 5of the differential operating valve quickly causing the same to descend and'with it the part 3 of the valve against the pressure of the seating spring 8 and the water in the pipe 1, so that waternow flows to the sprinklers or other point of service so long as the thermostat is heated to the operating temperature. Should the conflagration cease the immediate cooling of the thermostat causes the diaphragm to be restored to its normal position, the pilot or supplemental control valve Ato be seated under the action of the seating spring 12, and finally the discontinuance of the alarm by reason of an interruption of the circuit between said diaphragm and thesliding contact sleeve 15. It will be apparent, therefore, that on a discontinuance of the abnormal temperature the differential operating valve is quicklyl seated or restored to its normal position under the joint influence of the spring 8 and the water flow through the service or water supply pipe 1; hence, the flow of water is discontinued. 1t will be apparent that the time element may. be varied at will by reason of the adjustable' cup 14 and spring 16. It sometimes occurs in connection with the use of thermostatic appliances that by reason of excessive hea't the thermostat itself is destroyed. Under such conditions the action' of the spring 12in mynovel form of safety appliances would seat thel valve 10 and thereby cut off Ithe waterflow at a time whenit is most needed. l

.iFor the purpose of preventing any such possible disseating oi the second' control valve 23.

Y conveyed from said valves tothe main valve through tion of this figure of the drawings is substantially like between the conjoint ends of two sections of tubing or I ppgints widely separated, iizdesired, the advantagesof .with the water pipe 3l in a by-ipath circuitaround the churches, or other public buildings, the arrangement stroy the tube 22, or the diaphragm of the chamber 18. v

As soon, therefore, as the body 28 is fused the valve 23 is unseated by the action ofthe water inthe service or water supply pipe `lso that even though the pilot' or supplemental valve 10 be seatedby reason of the destruction ofthe thermostat the differential main oper-4 ating valve willstill remain unseated by reason of the flow of water through the by-path 9, due to the un- Although I have shown' the two control valves 10 and 23 and their operative connections in a-union 2- pipe, obviously these parts might be located at any desired distance'irom the main operatingvvalve, and` the water, gas, air, vsteam-or other'operating agency an independent by-path, pipe or tube, and this feature I` regard as important, in-that it enables me to locate the thermostatically controlled .valve or valves at which will be apparent'to thoseskilled in .the art.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated the application of my improvement in a' practical mannerto an emergency device for primarily testing all of the sprin-4 klers or for enabling waterto be released manually from various points throughout a building.l v This emergency applianceconsists of a supplemental pipe 29 connected thermostatically controlled valve, 30 being a. cock which may be' manually opened'at any time so as to therebyallow water to iiow directly to the water supply pipe 31, and hence into the operating cylinderbehind the piston 5, so as to unseat the valve 3 in the main service or supply pipe. y

l ,In Fig. 5 I have shown the application of my inven`v tion to the releasing of a re-door 36. Theupper porthat shown in Fig. 4 and the lower portion thereof is connected by a pipe 32 to a'cylinder 334providedwith a* piston and a latch 34'extending-into'thepath'of a pivoted locking bell crank lever35 carried by lthe door, the arrangement' being such that when water-is automatically released in the manner 'hereinbefore described it will flow from the main service or supply pipe 1 into the pipe 32 and ultimately into the cylinder 33, causing the latch 34 tobelifted so that the door 36Vis released and allowed to roll to closed position upon the inclined support 37. 'This door may also be closed by openingan emergency cock in the manner hereinbefore described. In 6 I have illustrated the application of my invention to the lifting of transogns,v sky-lights,4 ventilators or analogous doors 37, 37 orthe like, through a rope 38 and a system of pulleys 39, 39, s aid rope being operatively cbnnected with a piston in a cylinder 33, as before, 32 being a pipe connected with the service pipe, the operation being obvious itv being apparent that when the pistonis forced downward the transoms, skylights, doors, or other appliances will be lifted into the position shown in dotted lines. Such an arrangement has an especial utility in connection with theaters,

, 1 being such in this connection that the Ventilating doors l or sky-lights will be automatically-openedfor temperatures relativelylower thanV that for which conflagrav tions are designed to operate the thermostat which controlsthis particular application of the water How.

I do not limit my'invention to the specific details of. construction disclosed in the accompanying drawings,

nor to the especial uses hereinbefore'referred to, as o viously the same ymay be used in connection with the application of energy generally in the arts wherein it is designed to effect such application through the agency of a thermostatic device adapted to release and utilize l such sources of energy, suchas water, air, gas and steam, for predetermined temperatures, and my claims are generic as to all such applications. I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to release a supply of water through. the agency of a main operatingl valve thermostatically controlled, in which the valve is normally held in a seated position through the agency of'water fiowing through a by-path and unseated when the water is released and allowed to flow `into the open room or exterior air, and Imake no claim hereinafter broad enough to includeV such'a structure,

my invention being limited specifically in this respect v to'a by-path in which the water is never allowed to esi cape into the open air from such by-path.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire `to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isy 1.y In a water supply system a main operating valve and two* supplemental control valves, eachv controlled by a thermostatic device andadapted to independently effect the operation of the main valve,.one for a predetermined temperature and the other for a relatively much higher temperature,l substantially as described.

2. In 'awater supply system a main operating valve normally` closed and operatively connected with two supplemental control valves each controlled by a' thermostat, one

'of which actuates its'valve for apredetermined temperature and th'e other fox-.a relatively much higher temperature, substantially as described.'

` 3. Ina water supply system aservice pipe; a main voperating valve seated therein andoperatively ,connected with a piston Vincludedln a by-path tothe ,service pipe; two independent-supplemental control` valves `normally,

seated, So'asto close the `by-path, one being provided with i means as a-sp'rlng for holding it seated, andeach with/ a-thermostatic device, one of which at a predetermined temperature, actuates the spring seated valve to temporarily unseat it and open, the by-pa'th, andtheiother at vrelatively much higher temperature opens the by-path,

substantially-as described.

' 4. A water supply system embracing .'a mainoperating valve anda supplemental control valve adapted to elect the operation, of the main valve in combination with a thermostatic device operatively connected to actuate the control valve and an alarm actuated by the thermostat for a predetermined temperature fthe arrangement being such that the alarmv is sounded for a time before the main valve is opened, substantially as described. l

5. In asafety systexnfor the protection of buildings fromv re, a water service pipe, 'a normally. closed main operating valve; a supplemental control valve; in combinatlon with-'a thermostat connected to the control valve;

together with an electrical alarm, a .circuit and circuit connections with adjustable parts of the thermostat, whereby for`an abnormal temperature an alarm is rst Asounded and after a denite time Athe mainoperating valve is opened and water released, and when the temperature' is lowered beyond the predetermined operatingtemperature the' main valve is`closed and the alarm ultimately discontinued, substantially as described.v

6. ln a safety system a thermostat operatively connected with a seated valve; `instable contacting part 'and a circuit and circuit conne:- tions to an alarm, all so adjusted and arranged that the alarm may be actuated for a definite time before the valve is actuated, substantially as described.

7. In a safety system a liquid thermostat having an cxpansible diaphragm of conducting material; a spring seated valve with its valve stem located ln front .of said diaphragm, and a yielding electrical contact located between said diaphragm and the end oi? the valve stem; in

combination with electrical conductors connected`to the diaphragm and the contact and including an electrical alarm, substantially as described.

8. A thermostatic safety device embodyin'g an expansible chamber; a spring seated valve and valve stem, and a yielding contact adapted to make contact with the di'aphragm before said diaphragm Vtouches the end of the in combination with an ad' 1 valve stem; in combination with an electrical alarm, aubstantially as described. y l

9. A system for utilizing al source ot'iiquid supply, under-pressure, embrncingal main operating valve and a control valve located in a by-pathI tothe vpipe or tube in which the main valve is seated; in combination with. a thermostat adapted to actuate the control valve and means located at a relatively distant point for manually eecting the operation of the main valve', substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE'W. WACKER..

Witnesses:

GEORGE G. WACKER, CHARLES J. KINTNER. 

